Mobile device test system

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer media for testing mobile devices are disclosed herein. An outer signal isolation enclosure contains a group of test system components within. A plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures containing a plurality of wireless access points are contained within the outer signal isolation enclosure. An attenuator is also contained within the outer signal isolation enclosure and is connected to the plurality of wireless access points. The attenuator receives output signals from at least some of the plurality of wireless access points contained within the respective plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures and wirelessly transmits a test signal within the outer signal isolation enclosure based at least in part on the received output signals.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mobile device test system comprising:
 an outer signal isolation enclosure having contained within:
 a plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures; 
 a plurality of wireless access points contained within the respective plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures; and 
 an attenuator connected to the plurality of wireless access points, wherein the attenuator:
 receives output signals from at least some of the plurality of wireless access points contained within the respective plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures; and 
 wirelessly transmits a test signal within the outer signal isolation enclosure based at least in part on the received output signals. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of input ports connected to the attenuator and accessible from outside the outer signal isolation enclosure, wherein at least one of the plurality of input ports communicates a test control signal to the attenuator that at least in part determines the test signal transmitted by the attenuator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a cellular signal is provided to the attenuator by one of the plurality of input ports. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output signals received from the plurality of wireless access points are Wi-Fi signals. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is portable. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least four inner signal isolation enclosures each having at least one wireless access point contained within. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuator is connected to at least one of a mobile device under test located inside the outer signal isolation enclosure or a computing device located outside of the outer signal isolation enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one noise access point contained within the outer signal isolation enclosure, wherein the at least one noise access point is not contained within an inner signal isolation enclosure, and wherein the at least one noise access point transmits a noise signal to a mobile device under test.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mobile device undergoing testing within the outer signal isolation enclosure, wherein the system simulates the mobile device moving between wireless access points by varying the test signal transmitted by the attenuator.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein varying the test signal comprises reducing a contribution to the test signal from a first of the plurality of wireless access points and increasing a contribution to the test signal from a second of the plurality of wireless access points to simulate moving the mobile device away from a wireless access point external to the outer signal isolation enclosure and toward another wireless access point external to the outer signal isolation enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein contributions to the test signal from the plurality of wireless access points are independently variable. 
     
     
         12 . A method of testing a mobile device, the method comprising:
 receiving criteria for testing a mobile device under test;   based on the criteria, determining an initial signal contribution from respective wireless access points in a plurality of wireless access points, wherein the respective access points are contained within a respective plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures, and wherein the inner signal isolation enclosures are contained within an outer signal isolation enclosure;   determining a test signal based at least in part on the signal contributions from the respective wireless access points contained within the respective plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures;   transmitting the test signal within the outer signal isolation enclosure; and   monitoring the performance of the mobile device under test in response to the test signal.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 varying the transmitted test signal to simulate a transition of the mobile device under test between wireless access points located external to the outer signal isolation enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the varying comprises reducing a contribution to the test signal from a first of the plurality of wireless access points and increasing a contribution to the test signal from a second of the plurality of wireless access points, wherein the varying simulates moving the mobile device under test away from a first wireless access point external to the outer signal isolation enclosure and toward a second wireless access point external to the outer signal isolation enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining a second test signal that includes a signal contribution from at least one of the wireless access points and a signal contribution from a cellular input signal;   transmitting the second test signal; and   varying the transmitted second test signal, wherein varying the second test signal simulates a transition of the mobile device under test between a wireless access point located external to the outer signal isolation enclosure and a cellular signal source located external to the outer signal isolation enclosure.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 transmitting a noise signal from a noise source contained within the outer signal isolation enclosure.   
     
     
         17 . A mobile device test system comprising:
 a portable signal isolation enclosure having contained within:
 a plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures; 
 a plurality of wireless access points contained within the respective plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures; 
 an attenuator connected to the plurality of wireless access points, wherein the attenuator is configured to wirelessly provide a Wi-Fi test signal to a mobile device under test, and wherein the Wi-Fi test signal is based at least in part on output signals received from at least some of the wireless access points contained within the respective plurality of inner signal isolation enclosures; and 
 at least one noise access point contained within the portable signal isolation enclosure, wherein the at least one noise access point transmits a noise signal to the mobile device under test. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the system comprises:
 at least four inner signal isolation enclosures each having at least one wireless access point contained within; and   at least two noise access points.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the system varies the Wi-Fi test signal transmitted by the attenuator by reducing a contribution to the Wi-Fi test signal from a first of the plurality of wireless access points and increasing a contribution to the Wi-Fi test signal from a second of the plurality of wireless access points to simulate transitioning the mobile device from a connection with one wireless access point external to the portable signal isolation enclosure to a connection with another wireless access point external to the portable signal isolation enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the attenuator is connected to a cellular input signal, and wherein the system is configured to simulate a transition of the mobile device under test between a wireless access point located external to the outer signal isolation enclosure and a cellular signal source located external to the outer signal isolation enclosure by varying the Wi-Fi test signal and varying a signal strength of a cellular test signal that is based at least in part on the cellular input signal.